Implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and risks to the security of supply of medicines
TA-10-2026-0228 · P10_TA(2026)0228 · PE783.281
- Adopted in plenary on · Adopted 294–245–28 · See the decision →
- Full procedure 2026/2652
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Parliament reaffirms support for the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and its deadlines, stressing the need to reduce water pollution including micropollutants.¶ It calls on the Commission to produce a new impact assessment by end of 2026 on substances, costs, and impacts on medicine availability, and to consider safeguards including temporary suspension of EPR obligations if risks are shown.¶ Parliament calls for a temporary suspension of EPR and quaternary treatment obligations until the study is completed and assessed.¶ It stresses that costs should not fall on taxpayers or water consumers but on polluting sectors, and that EPR applies uniformly to EU and non-EU producers.¶¶ It highlights the need to monitor impacts on generic medicines and to safeguard pharmaceutical supply chains.¶¶
Key points
- Reaffirms support for the revised UWWTD and its deadlines, underlining the need to address water pollution including micropollutants.¶
- Stresses that quaternary treatment is necessary to protect health and combat antimicrobial resistance, and that EPR is the most effective tool for the polluter pays principle.¶
- Notes divergence in cost estimates and stakeholder concerns about methodology; calls for these to be addressed.¶
- Calls on the Commission to produce a new impact assessment by end of 2026 on substances, costs, and impacts on medicine availability, involving Member States and agencies.¶
- Calls on the Commission to issue a communication by end of July 2026 on flexibilities and monitoring, and to adopt safeguards if risks to medicines are shown.
- Calls for progress on implementing acts on quaternary treatment scope to give clarity on costs.¶
- Stresses that costs should not be shifted to taxpayers or water consumers but borne by polluting sectors.¶
- Calls for a temporary suspension of EPR and quaternary treatment obligations until the study is completed and assessed.¶
- Underlines that EPR applies uniformly to all companies placing products on the EU market, and calls for clarity on non-EU producers' compliance.¶
- Highlights the need to safeguard EU pharmaceutical research, development, manufacturing capacity, and supply chain resilience.¶
- Calls for careful monitoring of impacts on generic medicines and for proportionate measures to avoid disruption.¶¶
- Recalls that the Commission must regularly evaluate whether other products should be included in EPR, and supports research and innovation in sustainable pharmaceuticals.¶¶
Who is affected
- Pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, which may face EPR obligations for quaternary treatment costs.¶¶
- Manufacturers of generic medicines, who may be more sensitive to cost increases.¶¶
- Non-EU producers placing products on the EU market, who must comply with EPR obligations.¶¶
- Member States, wastewater operators, and relevant stakeholders, who need clarity on quaternary treatment scope and costs.¶
- Taxpayers and water consumers, who should not bear the costs of pollution.¶
Figures and deadlines
- 20 % of larger plants and 10 % of smaller plants to be upgraded by December 2033, full implementation by December 2045.¶
- At least 80 % of quaternary treatment costs to be covered by pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries.¶
- Commission estimates impact on medicine prices at EUR 2,64 to EUR 3,20 per person per year by 2045.¶
- Quaternary treatment coverage: 20 % by 2033, 60 % by 2039, full coverage by 2045.¶
- Estimated annual costs of quaternary treatment approximately EUR 1,186 billion per year by 2040 without EPR.¶
Legal basis: Articles 168 and 191 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union¶